Stirling Weather Information 

Past Week
Sunday January, 5 to Saturday January, 11

The first working week of 2020 was wet and windy. A weekly rainfall total of 86.6mm was our highest weekly total since mid-March 2019 with over two inches of rainfall recorded on Friday evening and Saturday. Our maximum wind speed recorded was 47mph on Tuesday 7, our highest of 2020 so far.

Despite a couple of mornings of frost it was in general a mild week with four days reaching double figures and the 12.9ºC recorded on Tuesday 7, is our highest temperature of the winter season.  

Maximum Temperature: 12.9ºC Tuesday January, 7
Lowest Temperature: -2.7ºC Friday January 10
Maximum Daily Rainfall: 37.3mm Saturday January, 11
Weekly Rainfall Total: 86.6mm 
Maximum Wind Gust: 47mph Tuesday January, 7

The Week Ahead
Similar to last week this week also started off wet and windy with wind speeds around 45mph on Monday. It will remain blustery for most of the week. Wednesday could be a drier day but rain is expected to return on Thursday. Most of the wet weather this week is expected to fall as rain but at lower levels it could turn occasionally to sleet. There are signs that from Friday and into the weekend that more settled conditions will move into the area and with that temperatures would drop to freezing and below.

Earliest Sunrise: 08:30 
Latest Sunset: 16:23

Did You know: It’s been a wet past week and the longest period in January we have went without any rainfall was for 6 days during 2017. On January 26, 2016 we recorded our wettest January day with 43.8mm of rainfall with over 9mm falling in just one hour in a month that saw 231mm of rain.

For the local weather news including historical and real-time weather information from Stirling visit www.stirlingweather.co.uk and on social media @stirlingweather and also our weather editor @scottlmclean 
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Enjoyable 10K this morning in Glasgow for the annual MoRun.  

A time of 43 minutes 40 seconds in tricky underfoot conditions but more importantly a good fundraising day for charity.  

It's September and it's a full month of charity fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK.

Starting on the 1st of the month with my commitment of 11,000 steps each day for March the Month and ending by running the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in Glasgow.
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So in one week I will take part in the Stirling marathon, or as its been branded this year the Great Stirling Run. The event is now in its 3rd year and it's a scenic marathon starting and finishing in the City of Stirling while taking in the surrounding rolling countryside to the north of the city,  passing through small towns such as Doune, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan where the locals come out in force to support the runners.

Now let me be honest from the beginning, I am no running expert, while I was actively fit playing football at a reasonably competitive youth level up until my late teens, for the next 16-17 years I let myself go, fed up with sport, giving no thought to exercising or what I was eating, I was just being consumed with work and business and as my business developed and grew and I became more office based instead of doing physical work my weight ballooned.

"Our mental health affects the way we think, feel and behave. A mental health problem can feel just as bad, or worse, than any other illness" - SAMH website - www.samh.org.uk

I believe one of the biggest health challenges we currently face in the modern world is also still one of the least talked about and perhaps still thought of as a taboo subject. 

Great work has been undertaken in recent years in raising awareness  of mental health and the importance of sufferers talking and seeking help but there's still a long way to go before mental health is taken as seriously as a physical health problem.

I, like many others, face challenges each day, week, month and year with coping with my thoughts in everyday family and business life.

On the days that don't go well for me, it affects my mood, my thoughts and my actions. There have been a few serious low points for me over the years but thankfully I have found and invested in methods and tactics that help me cope.

From meditating, journalling, joining groups, to paper exercises such as asking myself a series of questions about my thoughts I have been able to help ease any major issues I could have had.

One of those methods of coping is running - I have found changing my physical state either with running or a brisk walk to be one of my best tactics to help my mind and thoughts.

Unfortunately there are many people affected by mental health - many people in everyday walks of life who from an outside perspective seem happy, seem successful and seem contented with life.

But on the inside they are not coping with their thoughts. They are in a dark place inside and don't know what to do to help ease their troublesome thoughts.

In recent years there has been an increase in awareness regarding mental health but there is a long way to go before, not only at public level but also at government level, mental health issues are deemed as important as a physical health issue.

This year as part of my Stirling Marathon 26.2 mile challenge I would like to raise awareness and would welcome your support in donating to help the Scottish Association of Mental Health and the work they do to help and care for those affected by mental health.

Please consider donating at www.scottmclean.charity

Thank you for your Support
Scott McLean
www.scottmclean.scot

My new podcast is now available where I will discuss business, fitness and family.

Hopefully I will provide some words of wisdom along the way.

The podcast is available to listen and subscribe to on a host of popular platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Full details are on my new podcast page.

A brave and inspirational watch as Stephen Fry describes in his own unique way his battle against prostate cancer. 

A message for us all not to ignore any signs and also for regular check ups. 

​Encouraged to hear that his recovery is going well.

​Video from www.stephenfry.com
More information at Prostate Cancer UK
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Please considering supporting Prostate Cancer UK by donating at www.scottmclean.scot

I'm running the Alloa Half Marathon, Stirling Scottish Marathon and the worlds largest half marathon The Great North Run for Prostate Cancer UK.
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Ignoring prostate cancer won't beat it. Prostate Cancer UK has a simple ambition – to stop men dying from prostate cancer. Through shifting the science over the next 10 years we will stop prostate cancer being a killer.

Please consider supporting, not my running efforts, but the future research and those currently fighting Prostate Cancer.

If you would like to help support please donate at www.scottmclean.scot
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February 4th (today)  is World Cancer Day - a day to remember, to shed a tear, to reflect but also to be positive, be brave, be supportive and to fight - a day to get involved and support the research and the fight against cancer.

We all know someone whether a family member or friend who is currently or has been affected by cancer. In November 2012 we lost a dear friend and work colleague Maureen who sadly lost her fight against the disease after a short illness. Maureen left behind wonderful supportive parents and brother as well as a son she adored and supported with everything she could give.

In a way I was fortunate up until that time to not have someone close to me suffer from cancer. Since then though I have tried as best as I can to support and raise awareness to help the fight against this horrible disease. 

Each day around the world thousands of people donate, bake, walk, run, cycle, swim as well as many other activities to help raise money and awareness but even more crucially each day countless partners, relatives, friends and volunteers support and care for people affected by cancer.

I'm going to be blunt at this point - this is the link to the many ways you can support the fight against cancer - I beg you to consider donating via the the linked page or by supporting someone you know who is taking part in a charity event in the coming months. 

There are many types of cancer which need supporting and each has its own awareness and funding challenges but each one all has the same goal - to beat cancer.

​On 29th April 2018 I will once again take part in the Stirling Scottish Marathon - 26.2 miles running in the wonderful scenic Stirling countryside. Sounds exhausting and exciting at the same time plus also rewarding to those that complete the feat. 

A feat that is yes personally rewarding but also a feat that requires mental and physical strength - after 20 miles with just over 6 miles to go it is another 6 miles too far for the body which just wants to give up and stop going forward. 

I'm not exaggerating, 20 miles into a marathon the body is struggling and doesn't want to continue with the final miles - personally it is at that exact moment that in the past I have drawn on the support of the crowd but more importantly drawn on the support of the wonderful people that have donated and supported my efforts with my charity cause.

​This year I have chosen to support Prostate Cancer UK, a disease that will affect 1 in 8 men, kills a man every 45 minutes and is now a bigger killer than Breast Cancer in UK.

With the Men United campaign the awareness of Prostate Cancer has increased in recent years but the funding for the research to help fight this particular type of cancer is less than other well known cancer types. 

​Since I started running and raising money for charities in 2013 the support from family, friends, colleagues and customers has been remarkable and each time I am humbled for the support you give.

Conscious of asking for your support again for charity I do believe though that raising awareness and supporting the fight against Prostate Cancer is worth me asking and pleading for your generosity again. 

Please consider supporting, not my running efforts, but the future research and those currently fighting Prostate Cancer.
Thank You.
Scott